Marcos appoints five new CHED officials

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed five new directors to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

In a statement on Monday night, CHED Chairperson Popoy De Vera confirmed that the commission has three new directors IV, namely Jimmy Catanes, Lora Yusi and Mary Sylvette Gunigundo. The president also appointed two new directors III, namely Marco Domingo and Rody Garcia.

De Vera said the new appointees have "impressive academic credentials and expertise that will help CHED implement its mandates and priorities under the Marcos administration."

“The appointment of our new CHED Directors is a manifestation of President Marcos’ vision for people in government to be the best and the brightest with a commitment for efficient and responsive public service," the CHED chairperson added.

Gunigundo has served in various roles at CHED since 2004, including as education supervisor at the National Capital Region office. Meanwhile, Catanes is formerly education supervisor at the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) office and has led a number of CHED-funded projects in the region.

Yusi has served multiple roles in CHED Region III, the most recent being officer-in-charge (OIC). Garcia, meanwhile, is formerly the OIC regional director of CHED's regional office in Zamboanga Peninsula.  

Domingo previously served as OIC of CHED's CAR office and has been with CHED since 2014.

Last week, suspended CHED commissioner Aldrin Drilag said he has filed criminal charges against De Vera over an alleged rigged bidding that favored pharmaceutical company Aspen Philippines to provide medical supplies to state universities and colleges.

In response, De Vera said he has not served as a member of any Bids and Awards committee in CHED or any state university and college, maintaining that he is "not in a position to manipulate procurement activities."

CHED announced Darilag's suspension in January upon the orders of the Office of the President.